TAFT, Texas (Kiii News) — Taft police officers were randomly stopping people on the road Friday and handing out tickets, but not the kind you may think.
"It's a card saying 'thank you' from the City of Taft and the Police Department," Officer Desmond Whitson said. "Also with a lottery ticket."
Whitson said his job usually requires him to be the bearer of bad news, so it was nice to have a change of pace.
"People get a little scared when they get pulled over by police, and right when you tell them, 'Hey, here's a gift from us,' a big smile and relief from them," Whitson said.
That was the case for driver Deanna Trevino. She said she was delighted when she was surprised with a lottery ticket.
"He was very nice, so it was nice to get a little happy from him," Trevino said.
That wasn't the case at first, though.
"What did I do? Was it because I didn't have a front license plate? Because I'm from out of town?" Trevino said.
Now Trevino said she has a story to tell her friends.
As for those who got pulled over and were under the age of 18...
"We're giving them a package of candy or a gift card from Whataburger," Whitson said.
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